Microsoft became a market-cap leader through Windows, Office, and Azure.
Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Its early success came from software for personal computers, especially the MS-DOS operating system and later Microsoft Windows.
Microsoft Office became a major productivity-software franchise, while the company’s modern valuation increasingly reflects cloud computing. Azure provides infrastructure, databases, analytics, and other services to organizations around the world.
The company’s market capitalization has been supported by recurring subscriptions, enterprise contracts, and diversified businesses such as gaming and professional networking. Microsoft’s position among the world’s richest companies is therefore not based on a single product, even though Windows remains one of its best-known brands.